Both of the brash fighters have perfected the art of trash talk, though Sonnen’s latest troll jobs have reached some epic proportions. (Just ask his opponents, the California State Athletic Commission or the country of Brazil.)

But Warren isn’t ready to concede his title for MMA’s biggest talker. Besides, he said, he never says anything that isn’t true.

For Warren, Bellator’s current featherweight champion, this season’s tournament is an opportunity to claim a second title. And another chance to grab a mic and sing his own praises.

“I don’t mean to be in people’s faces,” Warren told MMAjunkie.com Radio (www.mmajunkie.com/radio). “I’m just extremely confident. I try to stay confident, and sometimes I say more than I should. But it’s always true. I don’t say anything that isn’t.”

If that’s true, Villa has reason to worry. Like Warren, a Pan American and world champion wrestler, Villa is a decorated amateur wrestler. But the fighter, who won a bronze medal in freestyle wrestling at the 1996 Summer Olympics, doesn’t exactly concern Warren.

“He’s 9-0, and he’s knocked a bunch of 125-pounders out,” the 34-year-old Warren said. “That doesn’t scare me. But he’s a wrestler, and he’s as good as its gets. … But he’s Cuban, and I’m used to beating up the Cubans. He’s an old man, and he’s going to run into a younger one.

“He has short arms, and he’s a juiced up Cuban, so if you get hit by one of those shots, it’ll probably hurt. … But if he wants to throw, he’ll probably eat a few on the way in.”

Warren was slated to defend his title against Patricio Freire back in July at Bellator 43, but “Pitbull” suffered an injury and forced the cancellation of the bout. That resulted in a five-month layoff.

“It was the best thing that ever happened to me,” said Warren, who believes his extended training camp gave him time to greatly improve his game.

In fact, he said his confidence has never been higher. (And you thought he talked a big game before?) But Warren said his wife, not his training camp, is the main reason for that confidence. When the fighter told his better half he was getting nervous for recent fights, Mrs. Warren hit him some common sense.

“Why would you be nervous now?” she asked him. “You weren’t nervous (in your early fights) when you had no technique.”

Put it all together, and Warren is confident Saturday will be successful. After winning his first Bellator belt, he expects to win a second by the current tourney’s conclusion. After that, his focus turns to a potential bid for the 2012 Olympics.

“It’s one step a time,” he said. “We need to beat the hell of this Cuban first and get to the second round.”

And with that, Warren bid adieu.

“I’ll talk to you again after I put a hole through a Cuban on Saturday,” he said.

MMAjunkie.com Radio broadcasts Monday-Friday at noon ET (9 a.m. PT) live from the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino’s Race & Sports Book. The show is hosted by Gorgeous George, MMAjunkie.com lead staff reporter John Morgan and producer Goze. For more information or to download past episodes, go to www.mmajunkie.com/radio.

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